PEARLS (Program to Encourage Active Rewarding Lives)

Do you know of a senior who seems sad all the time?

Feeling sad or blue from time to time is normal, but it should fade away after a few days. If it doesn’t, the person may be experiencing depression. Over the past two weeks, has the senior:

• Been feeling sad, rundown, or hopeless?
• Lost interest in doing things they used to love?
• Been having trouble sleeping or had a loss of appetite?

If you know of a senior who’s been showing these signs of depression, he or she might benefit from in-home mental health services.

A Free Program to Help Seniors with Depression

VNSNY is pleased to offer a free program for people over the age of 65 who are feeling depressed. Called PEARLS (Program to Encourage Active Rewarding Lives), this evidence-based program consists of six sessions of in-home mental health services that are designed to address the symptoms of depression and improve the quality of a senior’s life.

VNSNY’s PEARLS program is for individuals who:

• Are 65+ years old
• Live in Queens or Manhattan
• Are experiencing depression symptoms
• Meet the requirements of a depression screening

If you know a senior who could benefit from our free in-home mental health services, please call: 718-888-6884.

More About VNSNY’s PEARLS Program

Funded by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, VNSNY’s PEARLS program is staffed by experienced mental health counselors who speak a wide range of languages, including English, Spanish, Creole, and Chinese. They will work with the senior to identify the problem and then develop steps that will connect the senior to positive social and physical activities that will, in turn, improve his or her mental outlook and quality of life.

“When people’s physical issues are addressed, they also feel better psychologically.” – Annmarie Franco, PEARLS Program Manager

For more information or to schedule a free depression screening, call: 718-888-6884.

Para obtener más información, descargue una PDF en español.

Read About VNSNY’s PEARLS in the News

PEARLS of Hope: How a New, Targeted Treatment Program Helped a Senior Move from Depression to Dating